# 2026 Boston Marathon
The 2026 [Boston Marathon](https://www.edgepedia.org/boston-marathon), the 130th running of the race, was held on Monday, April 20, 2026, over the 26.2-mile (42.195-kilometer) point-to-point course from Hopkinton to Boston's Copley Square, with a field of about 30,000 runners.[1](https://www.baa.org/news/media-resources-schedule-of-events-for-the-130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america/) Defending champions [John Korir](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-korir-runner-born-1996) and Sharon Lokedi, both of Kenya, repeated in the open divisions, and Korir broke the course record with 2:01:52, the fastest finish in the race's 130-year history and the fifth-fastest marathon of all time.[2](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9) In the wheelchair division, Marcel Hug of Switzerland won a ninth title and Eden Rainbow-Cooper of Great Britain won her second.[3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Edition and date | 130th Boston Marathon, Monday, April 20, 2026 (Patriots' Day), Hopkinton to Boston[1](https://www.baa.org/news/media-resources-schedule-of-events-for-the-130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america/) |
| Men's open winner | John Korir (Kenya), 2:01:52, course record and fifth-fastest marathon of all time[2](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9) |
| Women's open winner | Sharon Lokedi (Kenya), 2:18:51, second-fastest winning time in race history[3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/) |
| Wheelchair winners | Marcel Hug (Switzerland) 1:16:06, ninth title; Eden Rainbow-Cooper (Great Britain) 1:30:51, second title[3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/) |
| Previous men's course record | Geoffrey Mutai's 2:03:02 from 2011, beaten by 70 seconds[2](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9) |
| Field size | 32,494 entrants from 137 countries and all 50 U.S. states; about 30,000 expected to run[1](https://www.baa.org/news/media-resources-schedule-of-events-for-the-130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america/) |
| Conditions | 45 degrees F at the start with a slight tailwind[3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/) |
| Prize money | $150,000 to each open winner plus a $50,000 course-record bonus; $1,484,500 total purse across Open, Wheelchair, and Para Athletics Divisions[2](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9) • [1](https://www.baa.org/news/media-resources-schedule-of-events-for-the-130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america/) |
## Men's open race
**Korir's record run.** The men's field, described as the strongest in Boston Marathon history, went out fast from the gun in near-ideal conditions, running near or ahead of course-record pace every mile.[2](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9) • [3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/) At halfway, 2016 Boston champion Lemi Berhanu of Ethiopia led in 1:01:43, an unprecedented split, before Milkesa Mengesha of Ethiopia surged past and Korir gave chase.[3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/) Near Heartbreak Hill Korir made his decisive move, and by 20 miles he held a lead of 7 seconds by the clock that his rivals judged uncatchable.[3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/)
Korir finished in 2:01:52, 70 seconds faster than Geoffrey Mutai's then-world-best 2:03:02 from 2011.[2](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9) He said he knew he was on record pace at the 40-kilometer mark but did not check the clock at the line; Boston Athletic Association president Jack Fleming told him of the record, and Korir jumped for joy on Boylston Street.[2](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9) The 29-year-old Kenyan was competing in Boston for the fourth time, and in 2025 he had joined his brother to become the first relatives to win the race.[3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/) • [2](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9)
The depth behind him matched the record: Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania was second in 2:02:47 and 2021 Boston champion Benson Kipruto of Kenya third in 2:02:50, both faster than the previous course record, with Simbu the runner-up for the second consecutive year.[3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/) American Zouhair Talbi, a 2024 Olympian for Morocco who became a U.S. citizen in 2025, finished fifth in 2:03:45, the fastest time ever by an American on the Boston course.[4](https://apnews.com/article/f9f9d6f8d81130095e8a794892082dc9)
## Women's open race
**Lokedi repeats.** Sharon Lokedi, the 2025 champion who had broken the 11-year-old course record the year before with 2:17:22, won again in 2:18:51, the second-fastest winning time in race history.[3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/) American Carrie Ellwood led a pack of 16 through halfway in 1:11:02, and nine women were still together at 20 miles. It was near the top of Heartbreak Hill that Lokedi began to break the race open; by mile 23 she led Boston rookie Loice Chemnung by 8 seconds, running in a borrowed watch after realizing on the bus to the start that she had forgotten her own.[3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/)
Chemnung finished second in 2:19:35 and Mary Ngugi-Cooper third in 2:20:07, times that moved them to fifth and sixth on the race's all-time list.[3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/) Jess McClain of the United States finished fifth in 2:20:49, the fastest Boston Marathon performance ever recorded by an American woman; four American women placed in the top 10 and 12 in the top 20.[4](https://apnews.com/article/f9f9d6f8d81130095e8a794892082dc9) • [5](https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a71071000/2026-boston-marathon-results/)
## Wheelchair and handcycle races
**Marcel Hug's ninth title.** Hug, age 40, won the men's wheelchair race in 1:16:06, beating Daniel Romanchuk (1:22:44) by 6 minutes 38 seconds, with Jetze Plat of the Netherlands third in 1:24:13.[3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/) The win was his ninth at Boston, leaving him one short of South African Ernst van Dyk's all-category record of 10 Boston Marathon wins.[2](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9)
In the women's wheelchair race, Eden Rainbow-Cooper built a 24-second lead over Switzerland's Catherine Debrunner by 5K and never relinquished it, winning in 1:30:51, her second Boston title in three years; Debrunner finished second in 1:32:59 and American Tatyana McFadden third in 1:36:43.[3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/) • [2](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9) In the handcycle divisions, Zachary Stinson won the men's race in 1:04:05 and Edie Perkins the women's race in 1:40:19.[6](https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon/2026/04/20/boston-marathon-winners-list-2026/)
## Field, logistics, and race day
The race was organized by the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.), established in 1887, and presented by [Bank of America](https://www.edgepedia.org/bank-of-america) as part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.[1](https://www.baa.org/news/media-resources-schedule-of-events-for-the-130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america/) • [3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/) Entrants numbered 32,494: 18,277 men, 14,101 women, and 116 non-binary entrants, including 4,698 Massachusetts residents, supported by more than 10,000 volunteers, of whom 1,800 were medical volunteers.[1](https://www.baa.org/news/media-resources-schedule-of-events-for-the-130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america/)
**Start schedule.** The wheelchair divisions started first, with the men at 9:06 a.m. and the women at 9:09 a.m., followed by handcycles and duo participants at 9:30 a.m., professional men at 9:37 a.m., professional women at 9:47 a.m., the Para Athletics Division at 9:50 a.m., and six open waves from 10:00 a.m. to 11:21 a.m.[1](https://www.baa.org/news/media-resources-schedule-of-events-for-the-130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america/) ESPN2 broadcast the race from 9:00 a.m.[7](https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/info-for-spectators/) Race weekend also included the B.A.A. 5K and Invitational Mile on Saturday, April 18, and the inaugural B.A.A. Youth Mile.[8](https://content.boston.gov/news/2026-boston-marathon-traffic-advisory) • [1](https://www.baa.org/news/media-resources-schedule-of-events-for-the-130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america/)
Organizers worked with Marcel Altenburg, a senior lecturer in crowd science at [Manchester Metropolitan University](https://www.edgepedia.org/manchester-metropolitan-university), to manage the field of more than 32,000 through eight Massachusetts cities and towns, some on narrow Colonial-era streets.[9](https://apnews.com/article/9f58a732889270ab1571f9768efe4583) The Official Charity Program included 193 nonprofit organizations with a goal of surpassing the previous year's record of $50.4 million raised, and a University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute analysis estimated the event's economic impact at more than $509.1 million for the [Greater Boston](https://www.edgepedia.org/greater-boston) economy.[1](https://www.baa.org/news/media-resources-schedule-of-events-for-the-130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america/) • [10](https://www.baa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/April14-BM26-Media-Guide-Pages_UPDATE-ForOnlineL.pdf)
## Records and significance
The 2026 edition produced course records and repeat champions across divisions. Korir's 2:01:52 removed 70 seconds from a men's course record that had stood since 2011, and the second- and third-place times also beat the old mark.[2](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9) • [3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/) Lokedi's 2:18:51 was the second-fastest winning time in race history, behind only her own 2:17:22 from 2025, and Chemnung and Ngugi-Cooper entered the all-time top six.[3](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/) For American runners, Talbi and McClain set course bests for their country in both open divisions.[4](https://apnews.com/article/f9f9d6f8d81130095e8a794892082dc9) Hug's ninth win moved him within one of the all-time wheelchair record of 10 held by Ernst van Dyk.[2](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9)
## References
1. [Media Resources & Schedule of Events for the 130th Boston Marathon, Boston Athletic Association](https://www.baa.org/news/media-resources-schedule-of-events-for-the-130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america/)
2. [Defending champion John Korir breaks Boston Marathon record and Sharon Lokedi also repeats, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/5a1c7ad49573bf15475f3544490f79a9)
3. [130th Boston Marathon Featured Course Records and Back-to-Back Champions, Boston Athletic Association](https://www.baa.org/news/130th-boston-marathon-presented-by-bank-of-america-featured-course-records-and-back-to-back-champions/)
4. [Zouhair Talbi and Jess McClain run the fastest times ever for Americans at the Boston Marathon, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/f9f9d6f8d81130095e8a794892082dc9)
5. [Results from the 2026 Boston Marathon, Runner's World](https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a71071000/2026-boston-marathon-results/)
6. [These are the winners of the 2026 Boston Marathon, Boston.com](https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon/2026/04/20/boston-marathon-winners-list-2026/)
7. [Info for Spectators, Boston Athletic Association](https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/info-for-spectators/)
8. [2026 Boston Marathon Traffic Advisory, Boston.gov](https://content.boston.gov/news/2026-boston-marathon-traffic-advisory)
9. [A crowd scientist is helping the Boston Marathon manage a growing field of 30,000-plus runners, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/9f58a732889270ab1571f9768efe4583)
10. [2026 Boston Marathon Media Guide, Boston Athletic Association](https://www.baa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/April14-BM26-Media-Guide-Pages_UPDATE-ForOnlineL.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Athletics, gymnastics, and strength sports › Marathon and road racing events*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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